This homemade applesauce recipe is easy to make with 3 ingredients and no sugar or artificial ingredients! Learn how to make applesauce in the slow cooker that’s more delicious than store-bought varieties.
This Homemade applesauce recipe is easy to make with three ingredients and no sugar or artificial ingredients.
In fact, it’s easy to make this recipe organic by using organic ingredients and skip the additives, preservatives and sugar. You can even make a large batch in the fall when apples are the best (in season), and can or freeze it to use all year long.
In this applesauce recipe, fresh, sweet apples are slow-cooked with the skins on (for more nutrition), blended until smooth and then spiced with a pinch of cinnamon.
It’s a well known fact that the peel contains most of the nutrients in an apple, which is why I prefer making this applesauce recipe that contains the peels! Did you know that unpeeled apples (with the skin in tact) contain 184% more fiber, 332% more vitamin K, 171% more iron, 300% more folate, 142% more vitamin A, 115% more vitamin C, 20% more calcium, and 19% more potassium than apples without the peel! I want my family to enjoy those nutrients!
Homemade Applesauce Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Apples. I suggest using organic apples to ensure you are avoiding pesticides and preservatives. Make sure to wash all apple varieties well before using, since they are not peeled. You can pick your favorite variety or use a combination of different types of apples. I recommend pink lady, honey crisp, gala, jazz, granny smith, McIntosh, etc. A sweet/tart mixture is my favorite.
- Water. I don’t suggest making substitutions for water.
- Cinnamon. Cinnamon is optional, but recommended for the best flavor. You can also add a pinch of nutmeg.
How to make applesauce
Let’s walk through how to make applesauce step by step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
To begin, you can peel the apples, if desired. however, I prefer to leave the skins on for added fiber and nutrition, as discussed above.
Next, quarter the apples and remove the seeds/core. Then, add ½ cup water and the cut/cored apples to the container of a slow cooker.
Don’t worry if it doesn’t look like there is enough liquid. As you cook the apples on high for 2 hours you will see that there is enough and the apples will release some liquid as well.
Once the apples are soft to the touch (easily mashed with a fork), add the contents of the slow cooker (liquid and all) to the container of a high powered blender.
Blend, starting on low speed and increasing to high speed, until the mixture is smooth.
Then, if desired, add the cinnamon and blend until combined (5 seconds).
How to store applesauce
Store the crockpot applesauce in an airtight container (I prefer a glass jar with a lid) in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can freeze the jars for up to 2 months. Or, if it’s your thing, canning the applesauce is an option (here’s a great article on how to can applesauce) to make it last even longer.
Enjoy!
There are many ways to enjoy homemade applesauce! First, you can simply grab a spoon and dig in.
It also makes a great baby food! Homemade applesauce is always one of the first purees I feed to my babies.
You can also use this applesauce recipe in your favorite recipes. I use it in homemade breakfast bars, the best carrot cake, homemade waffles, etc.
Homemade Applesauce Recipe FAQs
What apples are best for applesauce?
You can choose your favorite apple variety or use a combination. My top suggestions are:
Honeycrisp
Pink Lady
Jazz
Granny Smith (combined with a sweeter apple)
Gala
McIntosh
Can I add sugar to this recipe?
If you use fresh, sweet apples there is no need to add any sweetener. If you taste it and want it sweeter I’d suggest using honey or maple syrup.
Can you can homemade applesauce?
Absolutely! Canning is a great way to make applesauce last longer. I suggest checking out this article to learn how to can applesauce.
